Mistery Missing Chromas and Other

[ShooterRick]

I introduced a school of 5 blue green chromis Saturday to my newly cycled 72 bowfront. Last night I noticed the smallest of the group was no longer schooling and was staying by itself. Today when I came home from work he was missing. I checked the tank, overflow, sump and filter. Can't seem to find him anywhere and he did not present himself at feeding time. Up to this point all 5 ate from day one.

Tonight I noticed one of the remaining 4 has a raised white spot about 1/2 to 3/4 MM on his forehead and at the base of his tail just behind the dorsal fin. He is still schooling and eating. They are not fuzzy and these are the only fish in this tank. Water parameters are 78 F, Amonia, Nitrite, Nitrate all 0.00. Ph 8.4, salinity 1.25.

During feeding they tend to get slightly aggressive with each other. After feeding its back to playing nice and schooling. They are fed twice a day at this point. Could these spots be wounds?

[Reefing Madness]

Yup, those are more than likley wounds. This is going to turn out like Highlander....."There Can Be Only One"

[ShooterRick]

Yup, those are more than likley wounds. This is going to turn out like Highlander....."There Can Be Only One"

Hmmm. It was my understanding that blue green reef chromis were best kept in small schools and that even though a true damsel they were peaceful. Ok so The wounded fish is still alive and eating. We will see what happens. I still have not found my 5th but amonia and nitrates are at zero still so if it is dead in the tank as I suspect it must not be overloading the system.

[Reefing Madness]

Hopefully it pans out. Most lilely it will not, but you never know. They don't school well in small tanks.

[ShooterRick]

Hopefully it pans out. Most lilely it will not, but you never know. They don't school well in small tanks.

Ah! Well it seems 3 of them get along fine but the smallest one that is gone and the second smallest one is beat up I guess. I hope that is it and not a illness. I am moving 4 fish I have had for some time to this tank this weekend if all seems ok. If it is a fungas or something and looks worse by friday I may just remove the fish.

[chrisfont23]

Also, FWIW...keep an eye on that bioload. A few dead chromis at the hands of bullies can cause a little more than the bioload can handle.

[ShooterRick]

Also, FWIW...keep an eye on that bioload. A few dead chromis at the hands of bullies can cause a little more than the bioload can handle.

The injured chromis was really struggleing tonight so I felt it was more humane to catch him and put him down. The other 3 are fine for now. Tested all tank parameters tonight and still running 0.00 across the board. I added my CUC and chaeto tonight. Chaeto in the fuge of course. How many hours light needed in the fuge. I am running 6 hrs on timer at night now. Should that be increased?

[Reefing Madness]

8-10

[ShooterRick]

8-10

Thanks RM. I am now running 9 hrs light on the fuge. Also I still have 3 chromis and all look fine and not beat up at all for now. Maybe 3 will be tolerated! I am hopeful.

[Reefing Madness]

Thanks RM. I am now running 9 hrs light on the fuge. Also I still have 3 chromis and all look fine and not beat up at all for now. Maybe 3 will be tolerated! I am hopeful.

Keeping my fingers crossed for ya. Mine never made it in a 125g tank.

[Jessie Nicoletti]

Hmmm. It was my understanding that blue green reef chromis were best kept in small schools and that even though a true damsel they were peaceful. .

there are many types of damsels the main agressive ones are the sergent majors and dascalys type bodies tho all fish do have different personalitys ( i have a eel that dosent eat the shrimp hes lived with hmim 2 years now lol). although it may just be that they dont feel they have a reason to fight yet ( thier teritory is set probarly) they may gang up on a new fish put in.

[ShooterRick]

And then there were two! Just pulled the 3rd dead reef chromis from the tank and inspected with jewlers loops. Nothing, nada, not a spot or sore on him.

[Reefing Madness]

"There can only be One"

[ShooterRick]

"There can only be One"

Certainly is beginning to look like a Highlander episode!

[ShooterRick]

Certainly is beginning to look like a Highlander episode!

And then there was one! He has been renamed the MCloud chromis. I hope he lives because this will reassure me it was the fish and not my tank. Today all the transferred inhabitants seem fine and active. They were eating as of last night with no problems.

Tank numbers this morning. Amonia, nitrates, nitrites, all 0.00. Ph 7.8. since ph was a bit lower than I like and I understand it will fluctuate between morning and night, I took it as motivation to become familiar with the Red Sea coral pro test kit and measured Kh. If I did it correctly and I will do again tonight to make sure kh is somewhere close to 12. I did not test mg or ca yet.

[Reefing Madness]

Your on the ball with this stuff. I'm not thinking that it was a disease in the tank. McCloud, I love it!!! Now thats funny right there!!!!

[chrisfont23]

And then there was one! He has been renamed the MCloud chromis. I hope he lives because this will reassure me it was the fish and not my tank. Today all the transferred inhabitants seem fine and active. They were eating as of last night with no problems.

Tank numbers this morning. Amonia, nitrates, nitrites, all 0.00. Ph 7.8. since ph was a bit lower than I like and I understand it will fluctuate between morning and night, I took it as motivation to become familiar with the Red Sea coral pro test kit and measured Kh. If I did it correctly and I will do again tonight to make sure kh is somewhere close to 12. I did not test mg or ca yet.

So if one chromis bullied 4 and won what's to say he's not going to try and rule the rest of the tank. Round 2. Ding. Ding. Keep us posted.

[chavez]

Hmmmm i was looking at chromis but now i think ill stay away! Good luck with your Mcloud and for the ones you lost,

[ShooterRick]

So if one chromis bullied 4 and won what's to say he's not going to try and rule the rest of the tank. Round 2. Ding. Ding. Keep us posted.

I have been watching close. He is now the 2nd smallest in the tank and my 3 inch Jewel Damsel has him intimidated. He seems to leave his other distant cousins alone. The psuedochromis adopted a large hole in the right side top of arch. He tried to go there and she ran his butt out. LOL
His attitude seems to have been adjusted!

[ShooterRick]

Hmmmm i was looking at chromis but now i think ill stay away! Good luck with your Mcloud and for the ones you lost,

Ya I would. I am keeping a close eye on him and if he decides to get aggressive again he will be gone!